Remote-control electrical apparatus.



C. P. WELLS.

REMOTE CONTROL ELECTRICAL APTARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 9.1'91'3.

Arron/Ing Uivi'rED ,STATES ilrnur caricia.

CHALMERS P. WELLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'ASSIGNOR TO SUNDH ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. C ORORA'IION 0F NEW YORK.

REMOTE-CONTROL ELECTRICAL AEPARATUS.

'tain new and useful Improvements in Remote-Control Electrical Apparatus, of' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electromagnetic apparatus for controlling electric circuits.

The invention is shown in the drawing as arranged in a circuit to controla motor, and while lthe invention isparticularly adapted for use in controlling the speed of a motor from a remote distance I` desire it understood that I am not to be limited to that specific use of the invention.

The invention is shown as applied to an electric controller substantiall like the apparatus shown in Patent No. 33,568, dated Juxlyhli, 1903 granted to A. Sundh.

en a solenoid core is at its-lowest point the length of the air gap between thetop of the core and the magnetic top bar or frame of the solenoid is at its maximum, therefore, this is the condition of greatest reluctance in the magnetic circuit. When the solenoid circuit is closed land the core begins to rise this air gap diminishes and thel reduction of this gap increases the mag- I netic pull on the core. As the core continues to rise the air gap diminishes and the pull of the core is' increased so that there is .an accession of magnetic str ength acting on the core'as it rises.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings .I `have provided means -progressively reducing the `air gap between the solenoid core and its magnetic bracket or -pole piece.. I have also shown means for progressively reducing the magnetic pull on the core by automatically diminishing the pull of a portion of the lines of magnetic lforce drawing the core into the solenoid.. I

accomplish this by means of depending pins of magnetic material. which are progressively engaged by the co're as the said core moves upwardly or into the solenoid coil. It is to be understood that as each pin contacts with the top of the solenoid core the magnetic lines previously extending 4from the pin to the core and assisting in lifting the same are not strongly effective. A series of pins is arranged to be engaged in succession by the core as the core rises so that the pull- Specication of Letters Iatent.

Patented Nov. 13, 7191'7 Application filed July 9, 1913. I Serial No. 778,158.

ing lines of force are progressively and abruptly reduced in accordance with the number and area of `pins engaged by the upper end of .the core. Itis manifest that as the pulling lines of force are reduced in e'e'ct, the upwardpull on the core isdimini shed, the reduction in the magnetic lines substantially counterbalancing the increase in magnetic force due to the diminished air gap, so that the upwardpull on vthe core remains substantially uniform throughout the upward movement thereof.` v

In the apparatus shown in the .drawingI the invention is applied to a controller designed to progressivelv change resistance in a motor circuit to thereby vary the speedv of the motor. It is highly desirable in many instances that the motor speed be controlled from a remote point, and the controlling de vice must be s o constructed' that the remote control shall be positive, reliable and ethcient. I secure these resultsby providing a resistance in tlie solenoid circuit and two circuit controlling switches or buttons, one of said switches being normally open to normally maintain the resistance in the solenoid circuit and the other button being normally closed to maintain the solenoid circuit closed. By means of this arrangement the movement of the solenoidcore upward into its coil or -downward from said coil may be positively controlled. VVlhen it is desired to increase the motor speed the solen oid circuit is completed around the resistance. As soon as the core contacts with the first pin ofthe series the resistance in series with the solenoid may be again cut int'o `the circuit. The pulling-strengthv of the solenoid will then not be suflicient to continue the upward movement of the core which would then tend to fall back, being retarded in its backward or downward movement by the dash pot shown.' The core lieport the core and to prevent kfurther downwardmovement, the pin, of "course,v being supported on the upper bar of 'the solenoid. When it is desired to further increase the speed of the motor the resistance in the solenoid circuit is again short-circuited and the core will then move up to the next'piii, the

operation just described being then repeated.

-If it be desired to step down the speed of tional View of the controller,

tinuously controlled,

the motor the solenoid circuit is broken by opening the normally closed push button and permitting the core to drop from one pin to the next longest pin in the series; By then closing the circuit at the proper instant the core `vill be held. By this means the movement of. the core into and` out of its coil may be readily, accurately vand conthereby varying the resistance in the motor circuit, either increasing or decreasing it, as may be desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical seca motor circuit and a s eries resistance being diagrammatically shown; .and

2 a plan view of the controller. L

Fig. 3 a detail view of a modified forrri``o the means for abruptly changing the number of effective lines of force influencing the solenoid core; andi Fig. 4 a similar View of a slightly different -hform of device for the same purpose.

' is connected to a dash cuit closing 'noid. One end of the Referring to-the various parts by numerals, 1 designates a solenoid provided with a core 2 and the magnetic brackets or pole ieces Sand 3*. The lower end of the core pot l of any desired construction. Pivoted to the solenoid pole piece 3 is a series ofcontact arms 5, 6, 7 and 8. Each of these arms is provided with a. contact block 9 which is adapted to engage a complementary contact piece 10 carried by a rigid terminal bracket 11 above the solemotor circuit is connected to this terminal bracket, the other end of said circuit being connectedA throu h a resistance 12 with the contact arm 5. T e contact arm 6 is also connected to the motor circuit in such manner that when it is brought into engagement with the terminal bracket 11 a portion of the resistance'will be cut out of the motor circuit. The contact arm 7 is similarly connected to the motor circuit so that upon its movement to its circuit closing position a still further portion of the resistance will be cut out; and when the contact arm position,

' be completed direct to the motor and all of the resistanoewill be cut out. The resistance is in series with the motor armature so that as' it is progressively reduced, the

speed of the motor is progressively increased until it has reached its maximum.

The solenoid core carries a cam` bracket 13 having -cam engaging rollers or bars 14 which are adapted to engage cam surfaces 526, 7 a and 88 on the lower ends of the cam arms to force said arms to their circuit closing positions. These cams are arranged to be engaged by the cam bracket at different points in the vertical,movcment of the`-core so that saidarms'will be brought to their closed position in succession 'as the core moves into the solenoid, as is fully pointed .netic material.

8 has been moved to its cir-- the motor circuit will' loosely supported pins 15, 16`and 17 of mag- These pinsare of different lengths and extend different distances toward the'core from pins are in direct contact with the pole piece and are provided with heads or collars 15a -on their upper ends, which -in their normal positions rest on the pole piece. These collars may be made adjustable if desired. It

l is manifest that these pins alter the air gap between the pole piece 3 andthe end of the core; and it is also obvious that the magnetic lines of force will extend between the said pins and the core. As the core rises and engages the ends of these pins the magnetic lines exerting their iniuence upon the core the -said pole piece. The

are reduced abruptly and, consequently, the

upward pull on. the solenoid lcore 1s d1- minished. Itis aiso obvious that this'reduction in the magnetic lines is progressive as the core rises, the maximum point of reduction being reached as the core contacts with the third pin.

To control the solenoid I'provide the solenoid circuit 18 vin which'is arranged a closing push button 19; an opening switch or push button 20, and a resistance 21. The resistance 21 yis suiiicient to reduce the effective pull on the solenoid core so that when the switch 19 is open-and the resistance 21 is in4 circuit with the solenoid there will be no effective pull 'on the solenoid core. `The switch or push button 19 is normally open, while the switch 20 is normally closed;` In order, therefore, to shunt .the resistance 21 the switch 19 must be closed.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows:

Upon closing the solenoid circuit through the push button or switch 19, thereby shunting the resistance 21, the 'core immediately moves upwardly and operates the first circuit lclosing arm 5, thereby closing the motor circuit This upward movement of the solenoid core brings its upperend into lcontact with the pin 15, the longest of th'e three pins. The contact between this pin and the core eliminates vthe magnetic' lines which had previously extended between said pin and the solenoid core. Upon now opening the switch 19 and again throwing the-resistance 21 into said circuit the eifective pull of the coil on the coregwill be reduced and practically eliminated and said core will settle down until the head of the pin 15 rests on the top of the solenoid pole piece 3. The core, however, will then be held in its raised position by the magnetic attraction between the end of pin 15l and the end of the solenoid core.

through the resistance 12..

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BEST AVAILABLE @Olmi -on the solenoid core as thejair gafp If it were not for the pin with its head enlgaging the top bar of the solenoid frame the pot. The motor will then operate at its lowest speed. When it is' desired to increase the motor speed the switch 19 is again closed, thereby causiii-g the core to again move upwardly until it contacts with the pin 16 which is the next longest pin of the series. This further reduces the lines of 'force and diminishes the pull on the core. Upon .again placing the resistance 21 in the solenoid circuit the solenoid core will be held in its upward position by means of theattraction between the pin 16 and the core, the head of this serving as means to hold the core against downwardv movement. This operation may be repeated when it is desired to still further increase the speedof the motor. It is clear, therefore, that I-progressively reduce the lines of force or magnetic pull between the upper magnetic pole piece o the solenoid and the core is diminished.

To progressively increase the resistance in the motor circuit and thereby progressively decrease the speed of the motor the operation just described is substantially reversed. Assuming the core to be in contact with pin 17 and the motor to be operating at its highest speed, vand it be desired to reduce the speed of the motor the switch 20 is opened thereby opening the solenoid circuit. The core will immediately drop, being, of course, retarded by the dash pot. When the core has left pin 17 and it be desired to hold it on-pin 16, switch 20 would then benclosed.

By thus again completing the solenoid circuitthrough the resistance 21 the core would be held sealed to the pin 16 precisely as hereinbefore described. This operation would be again lrepeated when it is desired to drop the core to the end of the pin 15. It is, of course, to beunderstood that the number of pins corresponds to the number of steps in the resistance so that the 'speed of the motor may 'be stepped up or down, as desired.

Successive abrupt changes in the number of effective lines of force iniiuencing the solenoid core' may be secured in various ways. In Fi 3 is shown a series of spines `1 5', 16 and 1 of different lengths in proximity to the core 2 and surrounding the same`r said spines acting in a manner similar to the pins 15, 16 and 17 except thatthe spines need not contact directly with the The same result may also be obtainedcore.. l mnmntric cylindrical tube of varying thicknesses as shown in 15, 16 and 17 in Fig. 4,V said tube receiving the core 2b and producing the abrupt changes in the number of eiective lines, as herein described. What I claim is:

l. Agsolenoid, a circuit therefor including a resistance, means for shunting said resistance to cause the core to ,move into thev coil,- said meansv being operative independently of the solenoid core, a series of loosely mounted headed magnetic ins of different lengths extending into the ore ofthe solenoid from onenend thereof, -the heads forming stopsto limit the'inward movement of said pins,`-the inner ends of said pins being in the path of the core and adapted to be progressively e'n ged b the core as it moves into the coiltwhere y the core will be magnetically held in position by the contact pins when the said resistance is in circuit with thesolenoid coil.

2. A solenoid, a circuit therefor, a resistance insaid circuit, means independent of its coil, the magnetic influence of each one'of said pins being suiiicient to holdthe core against outward movement when the resistance is in circuit with the. solenoid coil after the core hasv reached any one of said pins.

3..A solenoid, a'core therefor, a series of headedrmagnetic ins of different lengths extending into the re of the coil and adapted to'be engaged in succession b the end of thecore as it moves'into the coi the axes of said pins being arallel to the axis of the core, said ins as t ey contact'with the core reducing t e effective. magnetic lines 'influencingthe core to approximately offset the increase in ma etic pull due-to the inward movement of t e core and each of said pins having' sufficient magnetism tosustain the core in the coil when the resistanceis inserted in the solenoid circuit after the core has contacted with one or more ofsaid' ins, 'and'means independent-of the solenoid) forl placing the resistance in the solenoid circuit to reducethe pull on the core.

4. A solenoid including a core, a circuit therefor, 'a resistance in said circuit sufficient to reduce the eiective ull of the coilman u ally operable means or shunting saidresistanoe to cause thecoretobe moved' into its coil, said' means'being'also operable to insert said resistance in said circuit, la sei-ies of loose, magnetic ins of different lengths extending into ,the re ofthe Vsolenoid with their axes parallel withthe axis of the core,

of the core as it moves into its coil, the maga step by. step movement'into and out of its I' netic influence of each one of said pins being' coil. r

suilicient to hold the core against outward In testimony whereof I hereunto aix mymovement when the resistance is in lcircuit signature in the presence of tw'owitnesses.

with the solenoid coil after the' core has.

reached any one of said'pins, and manually v CHALMERS P' WELLS' operable means for opening the solenoid cir- Witnesses: y

cuit to permit the core to move out of its WM.'R.DAV1S, A

coil, whereby the core may be controlled in r F. R. MILLER.

copies of thi; patent may be obtained for ave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of hunts,

' Washington, D. 0. 

